Interest in Green Building is exploding. In just about 10 years, Green Building has progressed from what some perceived to be a passing fad to a major industry segment in commercial construction. Now, it is poised to infiltrate the residential construction arena.

The interest in Green Building comes from both the private and public sector. Case in point, the United States Green Building Council has increased its membership in five short years from a few hundred members to over 10,000, and it is still growing! That is an indicator of significant interest, to say the least.

According to the 2008 U.S. Markets Construction Overview, published by Fails Management Institute (fminet.com), nonresidential green construction is predicted to grow by 110 percent from 2005-2008, reaching $21 billion dollars by the end of this year!

Currently, project owners, architects and general contractors are building green buildings in three distinct market categories.

Office

Educational

Health Care

By the end of 2008, it is anticipated that approximately 80 percent of total nonresidential green construction will fall into these three primary arenas. Other segments expecting significant growth include lodging and commercial buildings.

Green housing sprouts
Residential construction is poised for growth similar to what commercial projects have experienced the past few years. The thirst for more information on what constitutes green residential projects has been staggering. It is certainly “in” to go green. The Wall Street Journal predicts green housing starts to increase between 5 percent and 10 percent in the next three years. In fact, a report from the National Association of Homebuilders in the spring of 2007 indicated a shortage of qualified firms able to meet the demand of consumers for green residential projects already exists!

One of the key industry segments currently popular for green building construction is the education sector

Recycled glass produced by Crossville is being promoted for green specification in commercial and residential construction

Why are homeowners so gung ho to go green? The obvious reason is to protect the environment and to do whatever we can to ensure our children and their children and beyond will live on a healthy planet. Perhaps equally as important is the potential to realize significant financial relief by having a more energy efficient home; especially over the next several years where we anticipate high-energy prices. Contrary to some opinions, there is a real tangible benefit being realized by homeowners who had the vision to invest in sustainable housing. Recent surveys indicate a high percentage of satisfaction from these individuals in relation to lower costs associate with utilities and maintenance. It is no wonder the demand and interest is so high.

LEED takes the lead
Manufacturers in all product categories related to commercial and residential construction are scrambling to produce green products that can be approved for LEED point requirements. Isn’t it amazing what a little education and media publicity can do to consumer demand and interest? Was anyone asking about the potential harmful effects of the composition of their paint, carpet or wood in their home five years ago? I assure you; they are now.

As demand grows, so potentially does confusion, misinformation, and unethical marketing of products. This will continue to foster debate about the value of a universal standard for certifying compliance of materials producers who wish to offer green or sustainable products.

There’s so much to learn in a short period of time. As an industry, expect to see tile and installation materials manufacturers invest heavily in research and development and marketing and sales of new green technology. We are already seeing this trend with recycled glass, porcelain and pavers, and installation materials. Just take a few moments to review the advertising in TileLetter every month to see the green emphasis on new product introductions. In a short period of time, green construction will not be a trend, but a reality.

What Makes an EarthCraft House?
EarthCraft House, a program of the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association, created and managed by Southface Energy Institute, serves as blueprints for healthy homes, helping builders and remodelers create homes that are affordable, comfortable, durable, and reduce utility bills while protecting the environment.

To achieve EarthCraft House certification, a house must meet a minimum number of points from the program checklist, with half of the earned points derived from energy efficiency, including satisfactory test results of the completed project.

Because participation is voluntary, the program’s contractors and sponsors have demonstrated their commitment to producing quality green buildings that raise awareness as well as the level of professionalism within the home building industry.

More than 4,000 EarthCraft Houses have been certified to date. From its beginnings in Atlanta, the program has expanded to five states and now includes multifamily construction, renovations and community development.

Here are some of the EarthCraft House program’s green building technologies and techniques incorporated in the Atlanta, Ga., EarthCraftTecHome Showcase House, the feature project of the 2007 Southern Building Show in Atlanta:

Air sealing and insulation
Spray foam insulation applied to roofline, exterior walls, and rim joists to provide a completely sealed building envelope, eliminating all unconditioned attic and basement areas

Bottom plate sealed to floor or foundation

Gaps in exterior wall sheathing sealed

Foam insulated wall sheathing

Blower door test-certified performance of the house at completion

Windows and exterior doors
NFRC certified units with U-factors less than 0.30

Heating and cooling equipment
High-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners

Manual J calculation for accurate sizing of heating and cooling equipment

All ductwork installed in conditioned space, reducing load on the mechanical system

Air handlers and duct systems sealed with mastic

No ducts in exterior walls or vaulted ceilings

Energy efficient lighting and appliances
Energy Star kitchen appliances and clothes washers

Pin-based compact fluorescent bulbs in surface-mounted lights

Screw-based dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs in recessed lights

LED under-cabinet lights

Timers on all vent fans

Resource-efficient design
Engineered I Joist floors spaced at 19.2-inch centers

Two-stud corners and ladder T-wall framing

Right sized window and door headers

Elimination of structural headers in non-load-bearing walls

Finger jointed structural studs

OSB wall, roof and floor decking

Composite exterior trim materials

Durability
40-year roofing warranty

Back-primed siding and trim

Window and door pan, head and sill flashing integrated with complete drainage plane

Waste management
On-site grinding of materials removed from demolished house as well as all scrap wood and drywall from new construction

Brick and stone salvaged from original house reused in nearby renovation project

Scrap metal and cardboard packaging recycled off site

Indoor air quality
Furnaces and water heaters all sealed combustion units

Gravel bed beneath slab with radon vent system

Bathroom exhaust fans ducted to outside

6-inch high-efficiency pleated air filters in HVAC systems

Central vacuum system vented to exterior

Low VOC paints

Zero VOC oil base floor finish

Indoor water
Tankless water heaters located within 20 feet of fixtures

Dual flush toilets

Low-flow shower heads

On-demand pump provides instant hot water to distant fixtures

Dual drain system installed for future installation of grey water reclamation tank

For more information, visit these websites:
bostik-us.com
greenmission.bostik-us.com
schluter.com
sevilleconsulting.com
southernbuildingshowcase.com
southernbuildingshow.com
earthcrafthouse.com